The city councils of Lavonia and Carnesville made it official this week that they will opt out of the statewide floating homestead exemption for property taxes. 

Tax Commissioner Bobby Martin spoke to Franklin County commissioners Tuesday before a public hearing on the county board’s plan to opt out of a “floating homestead exemption.”

Only a few people attended hearings held this week on local governments’ plans to opt out of a state law that allows property assessments to be capped at the rate of inflation.

A photo of Tommy Cole with his friends Bill Austin and Ron Burdette lies on a table with letters he wrote to his future wife Trish while serving in Korea during the Korean War.

Franklin County’s local governments will hold 13 hearings next week on plans to opt out of a state law that allows property assessments to be capped at the rate of inflation.

Highway 17 was blocked off for part of Monday at the intersection with U.S. Highway 29 after a tractor-trailer attempted to make a turn and damaged a building, traffic signal pole and fire hydrant. (Photo by Scoggins)

A winter storm Tuesday left snow around Franklin County and icy conditions on roads, leading to closures and delays on Wednesday. (Photo by Eavenson)

Franklin County and its cities are moving toward opting out of a new state law that allows property assessments to be capped at the rate of inflation.

A group of poultry farmers from the Bold Spring community expressed concerns Tuesday about the pressure in Royston Natural Gas lines supplying their farms. The farmers brought their complaints to the Royston City Council meeting in Royston.